Aston Martin team boss Otmar Szafnauer has revealed that his team is now “pretty satisfied” with how FIA has handled the 2021 aerodynamic rule changes. This comes in after he had questioned the process last weekend in Imola.
Szafnauer publicly questioned FIA’s ‘intent’ last Saturday at the paddock. He mentioned that this year’s rule changes would impact Mercedes and Aston Martin’s high-rake designs.
The Aston Martin boss also had doubts on the legality of the process. He went on to say that FIA should consider an in-season rule change to bring more equality in the field.
“I think this year you’d have to [change the rules], because next year this doesn’t apply,” Szafnauer said. “I think that’s the right thing to do.
“As a team we have to work hard to try to claw back everything we can, but at the same time, we should be having the discussions with the FIA to see if anything could be done to make it a bit more equitable.”
On Sunday, the discussions with FIA took place which left Szafnauer satisfied.
“We’ve had a couple of meetings with the FIA,” Szafnauer told the media. “And I think we’re, at this point, pretty satisfied that all the correct steps were followed.
“I mean, we’re still in discussion. We’re just trying to discover what all the steps were, you know, to make sure that it was done properly and equitably.
“So that’s the reason for the discussion.”
Szafnauer did not reveal what his discussions with FIA wase or what the governing body told him.
“We’re still discussing with the FIA,” he said. “I’ll be able to answer that question probably in three, four days’ time.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, however, feels that the aero tweaks have specifically targeted the Brackley squad and Aston Martin is just a ‘collateral’ victim.
“How the rules have fallen into place last year, one can always question what the motivation was,” commented Wolff.
“There’s certainly the right to review and look at things and discuss them with the FIA, find out what has actually happened and how have things happened.
“That’s why I respect Aston Martin’s enquiry and the whole thing and maybe things were targeted at us and they are collateral damage.”
Do you think the new rule changes were made to target Mercedes and Aston Martin? Let us know in the comments below!